Jslik writes in: "The Communications Workers of America have released a white paper (pdf) on the need for a better broadband/telecom plan for the US." The U.S. has no comprehensive broadband plan (unless you consider lobbyist-driven, deregulatory efforts to maximize incumbent revenue a plan), and the union recently launched their Speed Matters campaign to help promote broadband investment and buildout (for obvious reasons). The report trots out stats we're all familiar with, including our falling rankings in global broadband competitiveness:

"The top speed generally available in Japan is 51 mbps at a cost of $0.06 per 100 kbps. The top speed generally available in the U.S. is 6 mbps available at a cost of $0.72 per 100 kbps. In other words, the Japanese have 8.5 times the speed at 1/12 of the cost."

It also discusses the economic perks of improving broadband penetration:

"A number of reports using forward-looking economic models have calculated that broadband would add $500 billion to GDP and 1.2 million additional jobs from the construction and use of a nationwide broadband network. Another paper warned that the failure to improve broadband performance could reduce U.S. productivity by one percentage point or more per year."

Solutions proposed include the FCC raising the standard definition of broadband from 200kbps to 10Mbps/1Mbps, while reforming suspect penetration measurement. They're also pushing for greater government incentives, noting the U.S. invests very little in telecom as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product, falling behind South Korea, Great Britain, Spain, Canada, Japan, France and "even" Mexico.